Foreign-funded NGOs must register with authorities, according to leaked bill

The bill would require Hungarian NGOs that receive more than HUF 7.2 million (USD 25,000) from foreign sources to register with authorities and represent themselves to the public as foreign-funded organizations. The bill’s authors decided, however, that the transfer of European Union funds into Hungary is not applicable under this rule.

civil organizations and foundations must register with authorities within 15 days of meeting the annual threshold. The organizations must itemize each such transaction for the authorities.

this information would be made public on the government-operated Civil Information Portal.

the organizations must immediately report on their website (or anything they publish) that according to Hungarian law, they are recognized as a foreign-funded organization.

applicable organizations that do not identify themselves as foreign-funded will be fined. If they refuse to abide by the law, prosecutors can remove the organization from Hungary’s corporate registry.

organizations can only be de-listed as foreign-funded organizations after five consecutive years of receiving less than the annual HUF 7.2 million threshold;

churches and religious organizations are exempt from having to register as foreign-funded organizations.